Grizzlies rally all the way back this time, advance in CPL playoffs

Published: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 11:59 PM.

GASTONIA — For the longest time, it appeared a team that Gastonia dominated during the regular season would get the last laugh.

But after Forest City scored the first six runs in Friday’s playoff elimination game, Gastonia showed life in the fifth and came all the way back for an 11-8 win at Sims Legion Park.

“I think we had a brief moment of lifelessness, but I don’t think anybody here doubted for one second that we were going to win this game,” Grizzlies outfielder Weston Lawing said. “I know I didn’t.”

The West No. 2 seed Grizzlies reached the Coastal Plain League semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons. Their best-of-three West Championship Series against top-seeded Florence begins Sunday in Gastonia, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Florence, as the higher seed, then hosts the rest of the series with Game 2 on Monday and Game 3, if necessary, on Tuesday.

Trailing 6-0, Gastonia scored five runs in the fifth inning to get back in the game. Forest City answered with a run in the top of the sixth for a 7-5 lead, but that’s when the Grizzlies made their next big move. Gastonia scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-7 lead and never looked back.

It marked the second straight night Gastonia fell behind big early and rallied. In Game 2, though, the Grizzlies didn’t manage to come all the way back They trailed 7-0 in the second inning, gradually chipped away and then exploded with five runs in the bottom of the ninth before falling short, 13-12.

“That was a heck of a series,” Grizzlies coach Jason Wood said. “Hat’s off to Forest City. They played very well. They were very, very good offensively the last two nights. I felt like we had some pitching left, but they just hit us around a little bit.”

Henry Rundio went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs to lead Gastonia’s 13-hit night. Four players added two hits each: Lawing (double, one RBI, three runs), Anthony Dimino (two RBIs, one run), Chris Robinson (four RBIs, one run) and Sammy Taormina (one RBI).

Devan Watts was credited with the win in four relief innings, holding Forest City to one run on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

Gastonia closed out a 13-6 series win against Forest City for the summer. The Grizzlies were 11-5 against the Owls during the regular season and had lost only once in eight home games until Thursday’s setback in Game 2 of this playoff series.

Eric Birklund was tagged with the loss after giving up four Gastonia runs on four hits in his only inning. Eric Cheray’s three hits led an eight-hit effort for the West third-seeded Owls.

Phillip Gardner: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/gazettephil

Friday’s other CPL score

(1) Peninsula 8, (4) Fayetteville 1; Peninsula wins series, 2-1.

CPL East Championship Series

Game 1: (1) Peninsula at (3) Wilson, TBA Sunday

Game 2: (3) Wilson at (1) Peninsula, TBA Monday

Game 3 (if necessary): (3) Wilson at (1) Peninsula, TBA Tuesday

Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup playoffs

West Championship Series

Game 1: (1) Florence at (2) Gastonia, 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Game 2: (2) Gastonia at (1) Florence, TBA Monday

Game 3 (if necessary): (2) Gastonia at (1) Florence, TBA Tuesday

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GASTONIA — For the longest time, it appeared a team that Gastonia dominated during the regular season would get the last laugh.

But after Forest City scored the first six runs in Friday’s playoff elimination game, Gastonia showed life in the fifth and came all the way back for an 11-8 win at Sims Legion Park.

“I think we had a brief moment of lifelessness, but I don’t think anybody here doubted for one second that we were going to win this game,” Grizzlies outfielder Weston Lawing said. “I know I didn’t.”

The West No. 2 seed Grizzlies reached the Coastal Plain League semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons. Their best-of-three West Championship Series against top-seeded Florence begins Sunday in Gastonia, with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Florence, as the higher seed, then hosts the rest of the series with Game 2 on Monday and Game 3, if necessary, on Tuesday.

Trailing 6-0, Gastonia scored five runs in the fifth inning to get back in the game. Forest City answered with a run in the top of the sixth for a 7-5 lead, but that’s when the Grizzlies made their next big move. Gastonia scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth for a 9-7 lead and never looked back.

It marked the second straight night Gastonia fell behind big early and rallied. In Game 2, though, the Grizzlies didn’t manage to come all the way back They trailed 7-0 in the second inning, gradually chipped away and then exploded with five runs in the bottom of the ninth before falling short, 13-12.

“That was a heck of a series,” Grizzlies coach Jason Wood said. “Hat’s off to Forest City. They played very well. They were very, very good offensively the last two nights. I felt like we had some pitching left, but they just hit us around a little bit.”

Henry Rundio went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs to lead Gastonia’s 13-hit night. Four players added two hits each: Lawing (double, one RBI, three runs), Anthony Dimino (two RBIs, one run), Chris Robinson (four RBIs, one run) and Sammy Taormina (one RBI).

Devan Watts was credited with the win in four relief innings, holding Forest City to one run on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

Gastonia closed out a 13-6 series win against Forest City for the summer. The Grizzlies were 11-5 against the Owls during the regular season and had lost only once in eight home games until Thursday’s setback in Game 2 of this playoff series.

Eric Birklund was tagged with the loss after giving up four Gastonia runs on four hits in his only inning. Eric Cheray’s three hits led an eight-hit effort for the West third-seeded Owls.